Introduction
Jesus concludes his lifestyle advice.
Verses
1“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.
2For with whatever judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
4Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
5You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.
6“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
7“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
8For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
9Or who is there amongst you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
13“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.
15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
16By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
18A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.
20Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’
24“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.
25The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.
27The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,
29for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
Questions
1. What does Jesus say about how we will be judged?
v 2 For with whatever judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
2. What does Jesus say is one condition for entering the Kingdom of Heaven?
v 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
3. How does a man have to respond to Jesus' words to be like someone building a house that won't fall?
v 24 Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 14 Jesus gives more advice on how we should live
- We will be judged in the same way that we judge others (v 1 and 2)
- Don't judge others harshly because we are probably as bad as them (v 3 to 5)
- Don't try to give God's message to those who obviously don't want it (v 6)
- Like ordinary fathers, God will give us things that will be good for us if we ask him (v 7 to 12)
- Not many will find the restricted way to life (v 13 and 14)
- Jesus warns us to beware of those who would lead us astray. We can recognise such people by the results of what they do. They will eventually be rejected by Jesus (v 15 to 23)
- v 24 to 29 Jesus likens those who listen to him to a wise man who builds a house that resists all the storms that come against it
Audio